Holder for picture-frames or the like.



j No. 730,713. PAIIENTED JUNE-9, 1903.. F. L. STAFFORD.

HOLDER FOR PICTURE FRAMES on THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILE I) FEB. 7, 1903. H0 MODEL.

mmwtoz i711 .sworab UNITED STATES FLORA L.

HOLDER FOR PlCTURE-FRAME S OR THE LIKE.

Patented June 9, 190 3.

STAFFORD, OF HAZLETON, IN'DIANA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,713, dated June 9, 1903.

Application filed February '7, 1903. Serial No. 142,378. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FLORA L. STAFFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hazleton, in the county 'of Gibson and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Holders for Picture- Frames or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to provide a suitable substitute for the present mode of hanging picturesnamely, by cord or wireutilizing a rigid holder of bracket form which is adapted to be hung upon the wall-and which serves as a more efficient means for supporting the picture, as well as being an ornament itself, and additionally reasonable for the lat-.

ter reason.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire aknowledge of the details of construction of the means for eifecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and draw ings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the cooperating parts and the upper portion of each bar, said parts being shown separated. Fig. 4 is a sectional view, parts broken away, of the upper portions of the supporting-arms. I Fig. 5 is a de tail perspective View of the adjusting-brace.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The holder comprises, essentially, two supporting-arms 1, pivoted together attheir upper ends and having supporting hooks 2 formed at their lower ends. The arms are preferably formed from metal bars, said bars having their upper portions transversely widened and'bent to form tubular parts 3,

the bent portions of the upper parts being sufficiently spaced to form longitudinal slots 4., for purposes hereinafter to be described.

porting-arms 1 at their upper extremities, and openings 6 upon the said ears receive the fastening by whichthe holderis hung upon the wall. Other hooks 7 are adapted for slidable adjustment upon the tubular portions of the supporting-arms. These hooks 7 are of peculiar form, comprising tubular parts 8, which are adapted to telescope upon headed pins 9, which are slidably mounted within the tubular portions 3 of the arms. A coilspring 10, disposed within the tubular portions 3, is adapted to normally cause the hook members 8 to engage the upper portions of the frame or like article supported by the holder, said coil-spring bearing against the head 11 of the pin 9 aforementioned. The hook'S is adjustable outwardly to permit of any inclination of the frame desired, the said hooks 8 being secured in any fixed position by a set-screw 12 of ordinary form. To close the upper end of the tubular portions 3, a stop-plug 13 is utilized, said plugs having also integral ears 14:, which are approximately of the same size and form as are the ears 6, integrally formed at the upper ends of the supporting-arms. It will thus be seen that the coil-springs are held between the plugs 13 and the heads 11 of the pins 9. A fastening 15 is adapted to pass through the perforated portions or openings in the ears 14 of the plugs 13 and the ears 6, a clamp-nut 16 being adapted to be screwed upon the fastening and to thereby rigidly hold the plugs in their position, as will be readily seen by referencetothedrawings. Itis contemplated that the portions of the hooks 8 and tubes which are in view shall be ornamented in any suitable manner.

The supporting-arms 1 are laterally adj ustable. For the purpose of accomplishing the adjustment of the supporting-arms a brace 17 is used. This brace is formed with oppositelyinclined lugs 18 at the outer ends thereof, said lugs being adapted to enter eyes 19, disposed on the rear portions of the respective supporting-arms 1, and to thereby fix the positions of the arms 1 with relation to each other. The disposal of the lugs 18 and their inclined form is advantageous in that the brace in a manner is locked to the supporting-arms, due to the weight of the article supported by the said arms.

The different parts of the holder may be made of any suitable material, preferably metal, and the details may be modified in form in accordance with the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a holder for picture-frames and the like, supporting-arms pivoted at their upper ends, hooks disposed at the lower ends of the said supporting-arms, and other hooks adapted for adjustable movement upon and intermediate'of the extremities of the said arms, substantially as set forth.

2. In a holder for picture-frames and the like, supporting-arms pivoted at their upper ends, holding means disposed at the lower ends of the said supporting-arms, and other picture-engaged holding means for cooperation with the aforesaid holding means, disposed upon and intermediate the ends of each of the supporting-arms, substantially a described.

3. In a holder of the character described,

supporting-arms pivoted at their upper ends and provided with supporting means intermediate their ends and at their lower ends, a brace adapted to fix the lateral adjustment of the supporting-arms and provided with positively-inclined engaging lugs, and means disposed upon the supporting-arms and adapted to cooperate with the lugs of the brace to fix the adjustment of the'arms, substantially as described.

4. In a holder of the character described, supporting-armshavingtransversely-widened portions at their upper ends, said portions being bent to form tubular parts, holding .hooks located at the lower ends of the arms,

extensible holding-hooks adapted for adjustable movement upon the tubular portions of the supporting-arms, and also adapted to cooperate with the hooks at the lower ends of the supporting-arms, substantially as described.

5. In a holder of the character described, supporting-arms pivoted at their upper ends and having supportin -hooks projected from their lower ends, said arms having transversely-wid ened portions at their upper ends bent to form tubular parts, the edges of the said tubular parts being spaced to provide slots, extensible hooks having heads upon their inner ends and adapted to be disposed Within the tubular portions aforementioned, coil-springs disposed within the tubular portions and adapted to normally hold the supporting-hooks in engagement with the upper portion of the supported article, stop-plugs adapted'to close the upper ends of the tubular portions, eyes disposed inrear of the supporting-arms, and a brace having oppositely-inclined lugs at the ends thereof, said lugs being adapted to cooperate with the eyes of the arms to hold the arms rigid with relation to each other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FLORA L. STAFFORD. 

